Mexico weekly ledger., 1887-08-11
A PEASANT RlGIlTED.

.urf in u lonely spot ON one of the
great plains of central Russia. 1t was
1 burning summer day and his work
rue could see by his downeast face aud
head that some great trouble
pressing harder upon him than
this fatiguing labor.
Looking mp in one of the pauses of
this work. the turf-eutter saw a tail
young man coming slowly over the
plain to meet him. The newcomer
wore the green, gold-laced uniform of
he palace guards: but the lace was
so faded and the coat itself so thread
bare that n would have judged the
officer to be either a very careless man
a very poor one.
He looks as if he had lost his way"
muttered the peasant, as the stranger
and glanced doubtfully around
him. Il must see if | can put him
it's always a comfort, when
in trouble ones self. TO help
somebody else out of it."
The young officer, however, did not
look like a nan who would need much
help from anybody. He was taller
by far than anyone whom the peasant
had yet seen. and his broad chest and
limbs showed signs of enor-
nous strength. His smooth, hand
some face wore n rather sad look, as
he walked slowly. as if either tired or
in deep thought, but there was an air
of conscious power in his upright
bearing aud the firm set Of his head.
as if he felt himself to be n match and
more than Il match, for anything that
he might meet. Altogether, he SEEM
ed to be the sort of Il man whom II
would mi ca rather have for Il friend
than for IN enemy.
Hello, brother" cried the stranger.
in a deep, strong voice. Am | far
from the village of Voikhoti? | think
l must have gone wrong, somehow"
''Yonr honor has gone wrong in
deed, was the reply of the peasant,
shaking his head; Its a long way to
Volkhof from here, You must keep
eastward TIL You come to Il big tree
standing by itself, and then you must
u southwark as far rs Il small lake.
Then, after that, you make Il big bend
to the right. and
s'Oh, / shall never be able to re-
member all that, said the officer,
laughing; suppose you come along
with me and show me the way Your
self.
Il would do it gladly. your honor"
said the peasant, hesitatingiy, but,
you see, if l lose this days work.
then
You shall lose nothing by helping
ME, be assured of that said the young
man, gravely. How much do you
earn in a day."
Twenty kopeeks;g q5 eents;2 81.
stranger, looking down pityingly at
the poor, tired man. who worked so
hard for such a scanty pay .'Well,
here's a half Il rouble ca cents1 for
you, and now come along. By the
by" he added, .'if we pass near your
home you might carry your turf home
at the same time
at would need two journeys to do
that, your honor"
Two? Why. those four baskets
would surely hold it allp"
There's not a man in Russia, your
honor, who could carry all four at
once when they are full. The two
smallest are enough for me-"
Not a man in Russia, eh2" said
the young officer. Wen try that.
Sling those four baskets over nv
shoulders, and then fill them"
The laborer hesitated, but the young
mar spoke like one accustomed to be
obeyed. As he stopped to receive the
baskets, the peasant slung them over
his ShnrllnrS tu-D Iafora anl two hn-
hind, and then piled in the turf till
all four were piled full to the top.
Then it was a sight to see the great.
towering figure rise slowly to its full
height under the load, and stride
away so briskly-that the amazed peas
ant had hard work to keep up.
A short y""ik brought them to the
wretched howell that was the poor
~turf-cutter's only home, and while the
latter was emptying the baskets the
strangers bold, keen eyes we're noting
the miserable and poverty-stricken
look of the whole place. A few kind
words spoken as they started again
went straight to the poor peasants
overburdened heart, and the whole
story of his grief came out.
Some years before he bad bought at
a high price, from a rich neighbor. a
small patch of ground that had PROV
ed to be worth hardly anything at all.
Moreover, not being able t O make up
the full purchase money at the time,
he had got into debt, and the debt
kept growing larger and larger, from
the high rate of interest charged upon
it, till he was almost driven to des-
pair.
at don't seem fair, does it?" he con-
cluded; shut what can | do? He's
rich and / am poor and friendiess
s'Can such things be done in Rus
SLAP muttered the officer. ut is, in
deed, time for a change
His great black eyes lighted up as
he spoke. with a flash of such terrible
anger that the peasant shrank in dis
may. But the young ma asked as
quietly as ever:
why don't you complain to the
czarp'
sThe ezar?" echoed the Iaborer;
.'what does he ear for poor peas
ants?"
"It's worth trying, though" said
the young man, earnestly, ''for yours
is truly a very hard case. Come, I'll
tell you what I'll do; I'm going to
Volkhof to meet the ear and his
officers, who viii be there to-day, and
/ can get you a chance of speaking to
him, for belong to his body-guard.''
ME speak to the czar?'
"Why not? He's only a man, like
you and me, I've spoken to him my
self, aud I'm mono the worse"
..But how shall | know him among
all his oficersas
..All the rest will have their hats
off, but the czar will keep his on"
Half an hour later, just as they
came in sight of Voik!Ioff. a group of
dressed horsemen rode. up, who,
the moment they saw the tall officer,
sprang from their horses and took of
their hats.
The peasants snnburnt face turned
as a sheet, and he glanced with
a bewildered air from tile officers to
his tall companion. whose face wore
o queer smile.
well, brother he added, "hava
you found out the ear YetsH
WELL said the peasant, staring az
II his eyes wonld start from his head.
must be either you or I. for all the
rest have their hats or
$50 ii SEEMS laughed Peter the
Great avail yax- fa1 D.fr.. Ha-s